Part 42

There have been and are, good men of business on the Courts, and by prudent investments of surplus funds derived from fees, fines, etc., a property has been created, which is exclusively their very own to deal with as they please. We have, amongst many others, the opinion of Lord Chancellor Selborne very decisively to this effect, and also one, which by the traducers of the Companies ought to be respected, for it is that of Sir Horace Davey, Q.C., who was consulted by the Livery Companies’ Commission--a Commission notoriously hostile to the guilds. Sir H. Davey stated that they would “not be justified in recommending that the corporate property of the Companies should be taken from them by the State.” He further reported that, such an act “would be an act of _confiscation_, and would not unreasonably shake the confidence of the owners of property in the security of the rights of property. It must be remembered that the Estates of these Companies have been recognised, and held by the Courts of Law, to be as much their property with a full right of disposition, as the property of individuals.” Truly, the Commissioners must have said to their legal adviser as Balak of old said to Baalam, “I took thee to curse mine enemies, and behold thou hast blessed them altogether!”

It is a pleasing characteristic of all true Englishmen that they love to meet together around a festive board; while their hospitality in inviting their friends, or the eminent and great in all sections of society to partake with them has happily not gone out of fashion, and, spite of the sour critics of the guilds, we fervently trust that it never may.

1388. In the return to a writ, 12th Richard II, the Masters of the Barbers certified, amongst other matters, that it was their practice “once a year to assemble to feast,” and that they had an ordinance by which none of the brotherhood were to pay more than 14_d._ each towards the feast.

10th May, 1435. Among the Ordinances of the Surgeons was one that each member was to “paie ʒeerli to the dyner of the craft that is to seie oonys aʒeer on the dai of Seint luke ech man lich mich whethir he be pˀsent or absent,” _i.e._, once a year on St. Luke’s day each man was to pay like much whether present or absent.

28th September, 1503. It was ordained that every member attending the dinner the day on which the Wardens were presented to the Lord Mayor was to pay 20_d._, and if he brought his wife with him, then 2_s._

The Barber-Surgeons from the earliest times appear to have entertained the ladies at certain feasts, and their unique toast “The Good Wives, Merry Maids and Buxom Widows of the Worshipful Company of Barbers” is traditionally said to have had its origin in Elizabeth’s time.

14th May, 1530. The following is amongst the ordinances signed by Sir Thomas More at this date--

AND WHERE OF OLDE Custume yerely upon the Sondaye next ensuyng the ffeaste of Seynt Bartholomew the appostell[283] a dyner is kept and provyded for theym of the lyvery of the said Company in their Comen halle called Barbors hale AND ON the daye of saynt Cosme & Damian[284] yf it be not on the saterday a dynˀ for them of the same compani owt of the lyverey IT IS ordeyned and enacted that evˀy man that hathe been upper maister or upper Govˀnor of the said Company shall paye at and for the same dyner xij{d} for hymselff and viij{d} for his wyffe yff she come. And evˀy other man beying of the lyverey of the same Company shall paye in likewyse for hym selffe viij{d} and for his wyffe yff she come iiij{d.} Provided alwaye that the maisters or Govˀnors of the said Company for the tyme beyng shall paye nothing for their wyffꝭ comyng to the dyner for that yere fforasmoche as their Wyffꝭ must of necessitte be theire to helpe that evˀy thyng theire be sett in ordre. And that evˀy man of the said Company beyng owt of the lyverey shall pay at and for his dyner on the said morowe viij{d} and for his wyffe yff she come iiij{d.}

[283] 24th August. [284] 27th September.

8th July, 1552. The earliest entry in the Court Minutes on this subject is a doleful one, for it was ordered “That there shalbe no dynner kept this yere.”

19th September, 1552. William Bette was appointed “Cooke for the Hall,” and Steven Reede the “Butler.” John Edwards (a Freeman) was to supply the flowers on the feast days.

28th July, 1555. It was ordered that the Masters should have a yearly allowance of £7 for the Election dinner, and that none should be at the dinner but Liverymen.

22nd July, 1556. This allowance was increased to £13 6_s._ 8_d._

20th February, 1567. Henry Smith, yeoman to Lord Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester, was admitted to the freedom, and because he had been frankly and freely admitted to the freedom of the City at the suit of the Duke of Norfolk, the Marquess of Northampton and the Earl of Leicester, he paid nothing but 3_s._ 4_d._, and 4_d._ for entering his name--

but the same daye the saide Henry Smythe gave the M{r} & govˀnor{rs} and assystentˀ a dynar at his owne pˀpr coste & charges franckely and gratefully and also he hath forder more pˀmysed and graunted to geve one boock[285] of season to serve at the dynar upon the daye of the Electyon.

[285] Buck.

28th July, 1593. No greate dyner was agreed upon but a smale repast w{th} the allowance of xl{s} and nether wemen nor children to come to o{r} hall upon the daie of the newe ellec̃ion.

25th August, 1600. There having been abuses at the feasts, an order was made for their reformation which stated--

that the bodye of this Company hath susteyned much disparagement by reason that some of the livery and others noe white at all respectinge the worshipp of this Company have not onely by themselves but alsoe by their servants and apprentices disfurnished the tables att ffeastes whereat they have sitten to pleasure their private frendes contrary to all modestie and good government. Doe therefore order for reformac͠on thereof by the aucthoritye aforesaid That noe pˀson of the Lyvery of this Companye beinge not of the Assistaunce of the same, shall not att any tyme hereafter suffer any of his children frendes servants or apprentices to staye or attende uppon him or his wiefe att any ffeaste to be kepte in the saide Comon Hall [_under a penalty of 6s. 8d._].

An order was also made that no Assistant should have more than one servant or apprentice to attend upon him and his wife at any feast.

21st January, 1601. Whereas by the death of Robert Gray late Cooke to this Company the house was unfurnished of a Cooke to serve the said mistery And therefore divers Cookes became this daie shewters to this Courte for the place of the said Robert Gray beinge then voyd, yet notwithstandinge forasmuch as Margaret Grey wiefe to the said Robert Grey became an humble Suter to the said Courte for the same place, it was ordered by the whole consente of this Courte That the said Margeret Grey be admitted Cooke to this Company duringe the tyme she shall well and honestlie and sufficientlie behave her selfe therin And she to receave such fee and salary therefore as at any tyme heretofore hath beene graunted to the said Robert Grey Provided allwaies that she finde all vessells belongeinge to a Cooke And that she execute the said place by a sufficient deputy beinge such a pˀsonn as the M{rs} of this Company for the tyme beinge shall like well of and shall thinke fitt.

Margery, however, does not seem to have “honestlie and sufficientlie behaved her selfe,” for as appears by an entry--

6th May, 1602. This daye Margery Grey late wyef to Robert Grey was dismissed from being any more Coocke to this Company for speciall causes to the M{rs} best knowen.

The Plague was raging severely in London in 1603, and the following precept was addressed to the Company, who however seem to have disregarded it, as the Election and Audit dinners were held this year. It is only fair, however, to state that the Court disbursed considerable sums of money amongst the poor stricken people.

13th April, 1603. BY THE MAIOR.

[Sidenote: To The M{r} and Wardens} of the Company of } Barbor Surgeons. }]

WHEREAS I and my Brethẽn thˀaldrẽn duely consideringe w{th} our seṽe had, the present infecc͠on of this Cittie liberties and Suburbs & the greate multitud of poore people w{ch} by reason of the said infecc͠on have theire howsees shut upp and restrayned as well from goeinge abroad as theire daylie trads and labors wherew{th} theie were accustomed to mayntaine themselves theire wieves and families and doe at this pˀsent by reason thereof endure greate wante and extremities Have thought fitt that all publique feastinge and com̃en dinners at every the severill Halles and Comˀn metings of corporac͠on and Companies w{th}in this Cittie shall duringe the tyme of gods visitac͠on amog̃e us be wholely forborne and left of. And that one third parte of the chardge and expenses intended to be bestowed and spent uppon the said feastinges and dinners shalbe whoelie bestowed and geven for and towardes the reliefe of the most miserable poore and needie pˀsons whose howse it shall please almighty god to visit Theis therefore in all xp̃ian Charitie shalbe to praie and desire you y{t} you take pˀnte order that from hencefort & duringe this pˀnte infecc͠on you wholely forbeare to keape any Comẽn feastinge or dinners at youre Hall orells wheare for the like purposes And that you take pnˀte order w{th} the Wardens of youre Companye and all such other of youre Company as should be at any chardge or yeald any contraᵬn[286] to any Comẽn feastes and Dinners for youre Companie duringe the same tyme to paie and contrabute one thirde parte thereof in readie money to some one honest and discrete person of your Companie whom you shall appoynte to receave the said some of money and to paie it ovˀ to one Robert fflecton Grocˀ noiãted and appoynted by mee & my Brethẽn the aldrẽn to be receaved from the Companies of such somes of money. All w{ch} somes of money shalbe from tyme to tyme wholelie and truelie distributed by order of mee and my Bretheren the aldrẽn amongst the most nedie and poore infected pˀsons YEOVEN at Guildhall this thirteenth daie of Aprill 1603.

[286] Contribution.

SEBRIGHTT.

6th January, 1609. This daye it is ordered that none of the officers wyves shall at any tyme hereafter followe the M{rs} to places where they dyne w{th}out the M{rs} consentꝭ uppon payne of the M{rs} displeasures.

1609. The dinners were usually held on Election and Audit days, on Lord Mayor’s day, and after all public dissections, besides Committee dinners (which usually were at taverns), and this year it was ordered that a dinner was to be held on “Gunpowder Day.”

21st August, 1609. This day it was ordered that from henceforth all such as are of the Livery should give towardꝭ the charge of the musicke on the Election day vj{d} a peice which they then begun and confirmed.

The reason of the next order was, that in consequence of the poverty of the Company at this time, the usual allowance of £8 made by the Court towards the Mayor’s feast, could not be granted.

2nd October, 1610. At this Court Richard Cade & Richard Coopˀ whoe are appoynted for Stewardꝭ of the Mayors ffeast are contented at theire owne chardgꝭ to provide and make the same ffeast as fully as formˀly y{t} hath been, only this their provision for their quantitie of their messes are not to be soe many for that noe wyves nor guestꝭ are to be bydden or brought to the same ffeast.

18th September, 1611. Att this Court Sebright the Cook is dismissed from his place of beinge Cook to this howse as well for that he did dresse their last dynner very badlie as for his ill usage in speeches towardꝭ the maisters wyves and for dyvˀse other abuses by him heretofore committed.

2nd July, 1612. At this Court our M{r} & M{r} Warden Johnson moving this Court that the Barbors as well as the Surgeons might be bedden to the dynnˀs that are keept at the examinac͠on of surgeons whereupon it was at this Court ordered & agreed that as many of the Auntient M{rs} & govˀno{rs} being barbo{rs} should & shalbe bidde unto every such dynner as there shalbe Surgeons beinge examiners at evˀy such dynner.

21st January, 1613. It was ordered that the Master and Wardens, with four of the Ancient Masters, should for the “worship & credytt of this Company,” yearly go and visit the Lord Mayor at dinner, and that 20_s._ each should be allowed them for their “charges” of the same. This allowance of 20_s._ each was probably given to some officer of the Lord Mayor to secure his favour towards the Company.

6th February, 1613. An order was made that at the dinner after any private anatomy, any of the Livery, either Barbers or Surgeons, might come thereto on payment of 12_d._ each.

16th September, 1613. This daie it is thought fitt & ordered that the widdowes of this company w{ch} doe paie their quarterage shalbe bidden to the ffeastꝭ in the hall.

14th October, 1613. Att this Court it is ordered that such widdowes as have been masters wyves and doe keepe shoppes or bynd appnˀtices shall paye their quarteradge but for such as doe neither keepe shoppes nor bynd appnˀticꝭ they shall not paye any quarteradge And yet notw{th}standinge they shalbe bydden to the feastꝭ yerelie.

24th May, 1614. Whereas this Company hath receaved a preceptt from the lord Mayor of this citty forbidding thereby all superfluitie & excesse of Dyet at the ffeastꝭ of this company and thereby injoyning that such feastꝭ as accustomably have been made & provided by this Company shalbe hereafter keept more sparingly & frugally then in former tymes they have, Wherefore it is ordered that there shalbe keept & made on the ellection daie this yere ensuing a smale ellection dynner according to the tenor of the said precept.

25th August, 1614. The above precept soon being forgotten it was this day ordered--

that there shalbe kept an Auditt dynner in such manner & forme as formerlie in other yeares have byn accustomed. And such allowance as formerlie hath byn allowde is to be paid by the howse.

10th July, 1615. At this Court it is ordered that the Cooke shalbe removed & displaced from his place of beinge Cooke of this Companie not onely for that he hath abused and wronged manie who have byn M{rs} & Stewardꝭ of the feastꝭ in unsemelie wordꝭ but for a generall dislike taken against him by this howse & for not pˀforminge his office in such sorte as is right he shold & ought to doe.

1624. The funds being very low this year the Court held no election dinner, but regaled themselves with cakes and wine, and the following order was made for the Yeomanry:--

2nd September, 1624. This Court being moved whether the yeomanry of y{is} Compa. should hould any election dinner or noe. It is for the reason then shewne expressely ordered with a generall consent that the yeomanry shall onely keepe their Election as this Court lately did onely with Cakes and wyne and neither feast musick or sermon to be had at that time.

20th July, 1625. This daye the letter directed to this Companye from my lord Maio{r} of London in effect tending the prohibiting of publicke feastingꝭ in our Hall and the contributeing of those moneys that should be saved thereby the one halfe to be paid unto the chamber of London and the other halfe to the poore of our Companie, so hereupon it is ordered by this Courte y{t} Ten poundꝭ shalbe distributed to the poore of this Companie at the discretion of the present M{rs} & noe money at all to be paid into the Chamber of London.

10th July, 1628. This daye our M{r} propounding to this Court whether there should be a greate Election dinner or a small dinner or onely Cakes and wine upon the next Election daye for choise of new M{rs}, whereupon by most voyces it was ordered that there should be a greate Election dinner held this yeare and the allowance of xx{li} towardꝭ that charge to be defrayed.

28th January, 1631. This Court being informed of Swinnertons abusive and naughtie pewter from tyme to tyme brought to serve this Hall at feastꝭ doe dismisse him from serving that place any longer.

20th September, 1632. It is ordered by this Court that the Twoe Governo{rs} that are Surgians shalbe at the charge and give the venison that shalbe used at their solepñe[287] feasts and those twoe Governo{rs} Surgians and the other twoe Governo{rs} Barbars to paye joynetly & sevˀally share and share like amongst them 4 the charge for fees and fetching the venison soe to be brought to o{r} Hall.

[287] Solemn.

8th March, 1637. Whereas the Lord Windsor & S{r} Tho. Bludder brothers of this Company were invited to dine here when M{r} Die made his dinner that the fare was enlarged. It is ordered that that addic͠on of fare amounting to 50{s} shalbe allowed out of the stock.

6th April, 1638. Whereas the Companie intendeth to invite the Lords of y{e} privye Counsell & other Lords & pˀsons of state at the dedicac͠on of the Theater & first anatomicall publiqe opac͠ons[288] there It is ordered by this Court & theis pˀsons following were appointed to give their attendance in the Hall upper pˀlors & Theater at the enterteynment of the lords on mondaye next viz{t}

[288] Operations.

Edward Charley Edward ffleete } Henry Eaton Hen: Wateson } are appointed & have promised to Edward Arris Hen: Boone } attend on the Lords in Liverye Thomas Allen John Dorrell } gownes to carry up the Lords diett Lawrence Lowe John Lufkin } & attend them at dinner. Thomas Turner John Perkins }

M{r} Wateson to be Gentleman Sewer.

Thomas Browne to be Husher of the Hall.

John Perkins to be Groome of the Lords Chamber.

John ffoster to be Groome of the Hall.

Nathan: ffoster beadle to be attendant at the outer streete gate with a white staffe in his hand.

Also M{r} Joseph Coopˀ the Princes Cooke is desired to pˀvide messe of meate for the Lordꝭ diett in y{e} greate pˀlor.

The following expenses of this Entertainment are extracted from the Great Audit Book, the first item being probably a Committee dinner to settle details with Mr. Cooper, the King’s Cook.

1638. Paid by consent for a Dinner at the Dragon in Cheape 6 Aprill for the Companie and the princes Cooke ij{li} ij{s} iiij{d}

THE ENTERTAINMENT AND DYNINGE OF THE LORDS OF THE COUNCELL IN OUR GREAT PARLOUR AT THE PUBLIQUE ANATOMYE.

paid to the Butler for Lynnen and plate & Attendauc̃e v{li} paid to the Pewterer for hire of Pewter then v{li} Given to M{r} Cooper the Princes Cooke that dressed the Lords dynner v{li} paid to two Upholsters for the hier of stooles and chaire l{s} paid to the Vinctner for wine then viij{li} iij{s} paid to the princes Cooke for soe much disbursed by him for the Lords diett as to the Butcher Poulterer hearbewoomen fruiterer Grocer fishmonger and Under Cookes as by bill appeareth the som̃e of lviij{li} viij{s} paid to Stacke for a bushell of flower xj{s} vj{d} and 2 dozen of stale bread ij{s} xiij{s} vj{d} paid for faggottꝭ and Charcoales as by bill xxvj{s} vj{d} paid for stronge beare and six shillings beere by bill xxxv{s} and for carryinge in j{s} iiij{d} xxxvj{s} iiij{d} paid for hire of Venice glasses and pottꝭ &c and for those pottꝭ and glasses that were broaken xxxiiij{s} paid for 4{li} of double refined sugar viij{s} iiij{d} paid for 3 dossen of french bread iij{s} paid to the Waterman and Porter that brought the beere in Bottles from the Lord Chamberlaines v{s} paid for the hier of two Close stooles vj{s} viij{d} paid to the porter that brought a dozen of silver dishes from the Lord of Hollands xviij{d} paid to Tryman Payne his Scullery man ij{s} vj{d} paid to John Bludder of the Kings Wardrobe for bringinge and hanginge the great Parlour w{th} Tapestry xx{s} To John Bare my Lord Chamberlaynes Pantryman x{s} And to one of his Scullery men x{s} And to the Lady of Devonshires man that brought the silver dishes v{s} Paid for bread when the Lords dined there xij{s} ---------------------------- Summ̃. lxxxxiij{li} v{s} iiij{d} ============================

20th June, 1638. Upon the complaint of the losse of a silver spoone the last dinner in the Hall and diver other times napkins & pewter dishes this Court doth order that when dinner goes in, the outer Wickett doore shalbe alwayes locked & the key thereof brought in and layed by o{r} M{r} for the time being till dinner be ended & the plate naperye & dishes gathered up & soe discharged.

The next entry would seem to indicate that some previous gift for the purchase of books had unhappily been diverted into a wrong channel.

2nd March, 1640. £6 given by Mistress Napkin & Mistriss Eaton is absolutely ordered to buy bookes & not disbursed or dispended in Drinking.

The following circumstance is significant, as exactly one hundred years later the separation which Mr. Foster desired, and for which he got into trouble, became an accomplished fact.

6th November, 1645. Mr. Ralph Foster was complained of for refusing to make his dinner to the Court on his election as an Assistant, and he thereupon uttered certain speeches “tending to the separation of the Barbers from the Surgeons,” for which he was reprimanded, whereupon he promised to make his dinner and to say no more about disunion.

23rd October, 1649. Upon reading the precept requiring the Livery to attend the Lord Mayor Elect to Westminster in their Barge, it was ordered that the Livery should be warned to perform that service in accordance with old custom, and “that there be a ffeast at the Hall on that day for the said Livery, But in respect of the hardnes and troubles of the times this Court doth consent that there be noe second course and noe Woeman at the same ffeast.”

* * * * *

Among the Company’s archives are four books containing many details of the feasts held between the years 1676 and 1790. They appear to have been kept by the various cooks, probably under the direction of the Clerk, and the following gleanings from them will be found to be replete with interest.

The first entry is as follows--

July y{e} 4{th} 1676 for barber sirgons hall Cortt diner.

Leag of mutton boyld | Sallet | 8 harty Chockes for 2 S{r} Loyne of befe | Neack of Mutton | dishes Shoulder of Venison | 3 Chickens 3 Rabets | 2 small Dishes of frut